The Nation Newspaper

Tag: IT

  • Banks adopt new IT solution for cash-less

    To enhance cash-less banking, banks are striving to become Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI-DSS) certified and further secure their payment channels, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has said.

    Last year, CBN directed banks to comply with the standards to improve electronic payment channels and operate in line with  best global practices. Financial institutions including Sterling Bank Plc, Guaranty Trust Bank Plc, Stanbic/IBTC Bank Plc, among several others, have been certified.

    Head, Shared Office Department, CBN, Mr Chidi Umeano, said banks were showing interest in complying with the standards, adding that many have complied with the standards.

    He said: “A lot of banks have complied with the directive on PCI-DSS. There has been appreciable progress on this issue. Those that have not complied with the standards have expressed commitment to enhancing the securities of their payment channels. They are at various stages of compliance.”

    Also, the Enterprise Solutions Director, Microsoft Nigeria,Mr Ade Famoti, said many banks were working or leveraging components of Microsoft products to meet PCI-DSS compliance.

    He said many banks found out that the time, resource and process cost associated with PCI-DSS compliance have limited their ability to comply with the standards, hence their decision to leverage on the expertise of Microsoft.

    “Many organisations discovered that the time, resource and process costs associated with PCI DSS compliance limit their ability to implement a secure development process.

    “This is where we come in – helping businesses address PCI DSS security requirements when creating software or systems, while speeding adoption of the security development lifecycle in their organisations,” he added.

    The CBN’s spokesman, Mr Ugochukwu Okoroafor, said the issue of PDI-DSS compliant is very important to CBN, adding that it is part of effort to ensure the success of the cashless project.

    Okoroafor, however, said he needs to confirm the level of compliance of banks to the standards because the issue is sensitive.

     

  • Journalist donates books to Anambra

    Journalist donates books to Anambra

    IT was a short but colourful ceremony when a former senior editor with Champion, Mr Remmy  Nweke, donated books on Information Technology(IT) to the Anambra State government.

    Presenting the books to the Anambra State Governor, Mr Peter Obi, represented by the Commissioner for Education, Dr Uju Okeke, Nweke said his book, A Decade of ICT Reportage in Nigeria is a chronicle of his award-winning articles on ICT in the last 15 years.

    He said he was inspired by Nigeria’s first President, the late Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, who fired his desire in journalism. He noted that practical knowledge and use of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) hold the key to the development of Nigeria.

    Nweke said it was imperative for the young to acquire skills in IT to enable them cope with the demands of the emerging world.Nweke, who is now the Group Executive Director of DigitalSENSE Business News, implored those who are desirous for Nigeria to emerge as one of the leading powers in the world to put their ideas in a book form and pass it on to up and coming generations.

    Apart from making his book available for use by students, Nweke said DigitalSENSE, will also be organising workshops for computer and IT teachers in secondary and primary schools.

    He also said DigitalSENSE would be willing to partner the state government to train school leavers and graduates in the state on taking advantage of the internet to become entrepreneurs and keep them out of the labour market.”

    Another thing that kept the spirit moving as far as my journalism career is concerned is the fact that I saw in journalism a developmental tool to enhance my society, which does not mean that criticism is deleted but structured in a constructive manner to elucidate further discuss.

    ”This book, ‘A Decade of ICT Reportage in Nigeria’ emphasises the significance of raising analytical ICT reporting to create relevant awareness among politicians and state government officials; linking university education with recent developments and trends in the Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) field globally, and increased effects in Global System for Mobile communications (GSM) on businesses, especially the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), among others.

    ”The imperative of this presentation is to ensure that relevant schools, at least, have a copy in their libraries for official student consumption. A Decade of ICT Reportage in Nigeria was written in simple, understandable and contemporary English Language for easy assimilation by all and sundry, including post-primary students who desire to venture into ICT-related courses or businesses, more so now ICT cuts across all spheres of life. Mrs Okeke, praised Nweke for the energy he put into publishing the books and thanked him for making the donation to the state government.She said the ministry would take full advantage of the opportunities offered by Nweke and DigitalSENSE and promised to partner with the organisation for the benefit of the students and pupils in the state.

    The Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Dr. Ngozi Ezeike, also praised Nweke for his works, saying: “How I wish the teeming youths can get initiatives like this instead of staying idle and getting involved in vices because vices eventually boomerang; if not with them, but with their children.”

  • Adopting India’s IT model to boost local content

    Adopting India’s IT model to boost local content

    Worried by foreign domination, local firms have launched a campaign to take over the ICT market by learning from countries with a robust and strong industry, writes AKINOLA AJIBADE

    For stakeholders, there is only one way to boost local participation in the information communication technology (ICT) industry and that is by learning from other countries with a strong industry. The stakeholders are seeking increase in local expertise, transfer of knowledge, software development, patronage of ICT products, among other issues that would engender growth in the industry.

    Some of the stakeholders, such as Ministry of Communication Technology, the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC), Information Technology Association of Nigeria (ITAN), Internet Services Providers of Nigeria (ISPN), Nigerian Computer Society (NCS), Computers Professionals Council (CPN), Association of Telecom Operators of Nigeria (ATCON) and Association of Licensed Telecom Operators of Nigeria (ALTCON) argue that there are capable local firms that can run the industry better than foreigners.

    The bodies had at several fora called for stronger local content policies to help drive the sector, stressing the need to develop the huge potentials in the industry, and further make it one of the best globally. Leading the initiative was the Ministry of Communication Technology. Since its establishment one year ago, the ministry has introduced a number of far reaching measures to promote local content. Under the leadership of Mrs Omobola Johnson, the ministry has rolled out a local content agenda to ensure wider participation of more Nigerian companies in the industry. The agenda is anchored on five goals namely – promoting local software and services, production of devices, card manufacturing, ICT infrastructure inputs and skills development.

    Of note is capacity development, an issue that is gaining ground among the stakeholders. They believe the country must have a strong workforce to be able to drive the local content policy. They said an improved, efficient, and reliable workforce is necessary, if Nigeria wants to achieve its local content objectives. Proponents of these arguments said United States, Britain, Germany, China, India among other countries were able to record huge successes in the area of ICT through local initiatives, arguing that Nigeria cannot be an exemption.

    They said the ICT sector is growing faster in Nigeria, and that the country needs to learn from countries that have grown their ICT industry to an enviable height. Little wonder that the Nigerian ICT’s operators initiated exchange programmes with their colleagues in other countries abroad. Recently, the information Technology Association of Nigeria and the National Association of Computer and Software Companies of India (NASSCOM) organised a conference in Lagos.

    The theme of the conference was: “Empowering and Resuscitating Local IT Entrepreneurs via Local Content Development and Funding.” The forum attracted delegates from Nigeria and India. It also provided room for cross-fertilisation of ideas among the operators. A major objective of the conference was to enable Nigerian operators learn from their Indian counterparts, and seek ways of replicating the knowledge in the industry.

    The reason is because India has recorded tremendous growth in the area of information communication and technology. The country is not only outsourcing ICT services to United States, but also deriving huge revenues from the industry. Reports have it that the bulk of contributions to India’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) comes from ICT industry.

    Speaking at the event, the President, Association of Telecom Operators of Nigeria, Mr Lanre Ajayi said India has been growing its ICT industry well, and therefore needs to assist the country in this regard. Ajayi said India has advanced greatly in the area of information communication and technology, arguing that the country has become a force to reckon with globally. He said India is one of the leading nations in the area of development of ICT’s infrastructure, arguing that Nigeria need to learn from the country.

    He said: “What we are doing today is to learn from our India counterparts and further improve capacity. The Local content policy cannot achieve its objectives, unless we develop local capacity. The only way to achieve this, is to learn from India, among other countries that have a well developed ICT’s industry. India’s achievements can be attributed to its citizens in Diaspora. Britain granted independence to India several decades ago. After independence, many Indians stayed back in Britain. These people have helped in transferring knowledge to India to grow the country’s ICT industry. Today, India has become one of the best ICT’s countries.

    “Nigeria would have achieved a lot in the area of ICT if its citizens in Diaspora have taken after the Indians. Since Nigerians in Diaspora have refused to come home and impact necessary ICT knowledge on us, we have to learn from a country like India that has recorded a robust growth in ICT. What I know is that one must learn from those that are superior to him. And that is what we are doing to spur growth in the industry. We believe that the idea will help in promoting the growth of local content agenda in the future.”

    Also, the President, ITAN, Mrs Florence Seriki said the issue of local content development is important because it would create jobs and revenue for the economy. She said there are lots to learn from countries that have carved a niche for themselves in the global’s ICT market, arguing that the collaboration between Nigeria and India would further grow the industry. She said operators are encouraging students to use locally manufactured computers, laptops, and Personal Computers (PCs), adding that the development has paid off. She said through the partnership, the two countries would be able to transfer skills that would strengthen the growth of the sector.

    The President, National Association of Computers and Software Companies of India, Mr Som Mital said the two countries would learn from each other and collaborate on the issue of investing in Nigeria. Mital said efforts would be made to forge lasting partnership arrangements between the two countries in the area of ICT development. He said investments in ICT industry in India is worth $300 billion, adding that the country has generated huge revenues from IT outsourcing services.

    “India boasts of a larger percentage of ICT’s market globally. The development has created a lot of value chains in India, and other countries where we have considerable influence. Through this collaboration, India and Nigeria will benefit from each other. With time, Nigeria will declare ICT as the biggest employer of labour. What the country needs to do is to open up its ICT’s industry for growth. The reason is because it can create capabilities, and further make the government to be more transparent. Mital said the two countries would benefit from each other, arguing that Nigeria would gain more in the area of capacity building.

    The Minister of Communication Technology, Mrs Johnson Omobola said efforts would be geared towards policies that encourage the patronage of locally developed software. Represented by her personal assistant, Mr Ola Ogunleye, Omobola said the government would continue to promote the establishment of ICT incubation centres that operate in a private sector/ entrepreneurial setting.

    “Included in this initiative is the promotion of a venture capital fund that would provide alternative and more appropriate means of funding for software and other ICT entrepreneurs especially in the start-up phases, as well as providing avenues for the commissioning of bespoke software by the business community. Government has directed that computers and laptops of a certain configuration purchased through appropriated funds must be locally assembled or manufactured in Nigeria. Likewise, local card production and consumption has been institutionalised to drive local content policy. For example, government insistence on local manufacturing of recharge cards has been successfully done and jobs and values have been created,” she said.

    The minister said appropriate guidelines and standards for IT products/ services, as well as campaign for the patronage of “Made in Nigeria” products have been launched. She said the ministry is working on providing regulatory framework that will protect intellectual property rights and privilege of the local entrepreneurs. She stressed that entrepreneurs would enjoy incentives such as tax-breaks, tariffs/levies concessions. The minister said the collaboration between ITAN and NASSCOM would encourage the growth of the ICT industry in India and Nigeria respectively.